| Place | Europe: France |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART93090.010 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 25.5 cm x 36 cm |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | pencil on paper |
| Maker |
Howie, Laurence |
| Place made | France: Nord Pas de Calais, Nord, Lille, Fromelles |
| Date made | 1919 |
| Conflict |
Period 1910-1919 First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Aubers N 20 D 84 German pill-box built inside farm house
Description
Sketch of a ruined German pill box that they had built inside a farm house in the town of Aubers. The town was part of the Aubers-Fromelles sector and saw heavy fighting during the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916, the first battle on the Western Front fought by troops in the AIF. The battle was a disaster, with heavy Australian casualties and the inability to break the German lines. Pillboxes were developed during the First World War to provide a secure place near the trenches to fire on an attacking side and were strong enough to withstand attacks from grenades and small-arms fire. They were used as defences behind the front line, so if the line was breached the attacking side would meet further resistance beyond the line.